Railroad car truck bolster



Jan. 1, 1946. K. F. NYSTROM ET Al.

RAILROAD CAR TRUCK BOLSTER Filed Sept. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS.

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1946- K. F. NYSTROM ET AL 2,392,292

RAILROAD CAR TRUCK BOLSTER Filed Sept. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Shet 2 ZS s & AI A INVENTVORE- [fa/Z [Ag/500m,

Vernon! Greg/z,

Patented Jan. 1, 1946 or Fl C E RAILROAD TRUOKBOIESTER Karl T. :Nystrom,Nashotah, and VernonrL.

Green MiIWaukee, Wis.

Application September 22, I944, SBIiaYN'o. 555340 8:ClaimS. (CL"1'05-229) Our invention relates to a Iabricated truck bolster of thetruss (type wherein the respective elements or members are welded toeach other to provide a composite unit of preformed sheet metal sectionsof predetermined configuration and arrangement, an integrally united toeach other, .and wherein the use of rivets is entirely eliminated.

Our improved bolster, which issomevvhat similar. to the old simplextype, is a material improvement thereof in .a number of essential--respects; as,for example the angle of the tension member, with respectto .the compression.member, hasbeenaltered from approximately fifteendegrees to thirtydegrees, thereby lowering the tension forces inproportion to the .sine of the respective angles. .Then too, with ourimproved bolster, the .forces encountered by the side bearings, as wellas the center ,plate lload, have been provided .for in i an engineeringmanner by means.

of diverging .or triangularstruts or braces whichv may function ascompression members on one side .and as tension members on the other:side depending on whether the load is on the center bearing -.or-onaside bearing; the invention .pro- 1 viding a truss type bolster whereinthe tension loadsare reduced.

With -.our invention a complete beamstructure, regardless of theparticular type of end plates or members employed, is provided, thusenabling any type-of bolster ends to be appliedin-keeping with thespring and snu-bbing devices employed on the truck; and at the same timethe --use of end castings or forgings is eliminated.

The objects and advantages of our invention will be more .fullycomprehended from the following detailed description of th accompanyindrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of our improved truck bolster. t

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 13 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View taken on the line3-3 of Figure '1, viewed in the direction of thearrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view -on the line 4--4 of Figured.Figure .5 .is a detail sectional view takenon the line 5-5 .of Figure 3,.lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Our improved truss type truck bolster in the exempliiication shown inthe drawings consists of a top or compression member llhpreterably ofchannel .form in cross section, with comparatively wide side flanges U,and at trans-verse median line with an opening which is surrounded onthe. lower side of member H) by a depending king pin receiving tube 12which preferably is welded to the compressionmeniber IILas'shOwn. inFigure "3, and the top of member f0 about the central opening isprovidedwith the annular center plate l3 which is welded 'to the topmemher. Thefbottom of tube T2 .is provided with a. king pin s'top or pin[4 which may be welded to the end of tube |2 as shown. 7

The top or compression member 4'0, at .predetermined distances removedfrom the center bearing plate, is provided with suitable side bearings[5, l5 which, in the specifi'cexemplification are shown in the nature ofrectangular boxes I5 Welded to the top member and provided withyieldable or, wood filler blocks 1'6 provided with the metallic capmembers ll. It will be understood that anysuitable type of side bearingmay be employed.

The top or compression member .lfl extends substantially .in a straight.line from end to end and the ends are integrally united with the-upwardly sloping ends of the tension member or bar 18; the ends of thecompression member IB and of the tension member l8 being weldedto eachother, as shown at 19 in Figure 3, with the tension memberterminating inthe :plane of the compression member as more clearly shown inFigureB.

The tension member 18 consists of a flat and comparatively thick strapor bar of predetermined length -formed with a straight horizontalintermediate portion I8 1, disposed ata greater distance beneath thecompression member than has heretofore been the practice, with saidportion t8 made to extend beyond opposite sides of the centerbearing-portion of the compression member 10, where the ends of thetension bar are bent to provide the upwardly sloping portions I-8 whoseends are shown terminating adjacent to and in the plane of the uppersurface of the compression member 10, with the ends of the compressionmember and ofthe tension member welded to each othenasindicatedat L9.

The bolster at opposite sides of its transverse median line is providedwith brace means whereby the bolster-is reentorced at the loadencountering points, namely at the center bearing and also at the sidebearings as clearly shown i-nFigure :2. The straps or brace means asdisclosed in the drawings, for the sake of easy forming, pref -v erablyconsist of the V-shaped. bars 20, with the bases or apex portionsresting on the tension member at the iunctu-resof the intermediate hor--izontal portion Ic and the upwardly slopingportions H3 and securedthereto by welding, as indicated at 2|, thereby firmly anchoring thebrace members in place.

The diverging ends of the brace elements are intimately secured bywelding, as indicated at 22, to the lower surface of the compressionmember 10, with one leg of each brace element secured beneath the centerbearing member [3, in proximity to the king pin, receiving tube l2 whilethe other legof each brace element is secured directly beneaththecorresponding ide bearing 15.

These brace bars are shown in the nature of flat bars substantially thesame width as the ten sion member I8, see Figure 4; and each strut orbrace element preferably is provided with a web 23 of sheet metalcut'into triangular or V-shape form with its edges welded to theopposing faces of the V-shape strut members 2H, preferably midwaybetween the longitudinal edges thereof, as shown in dotted lines inFigure 1, and to the lower face of the compression member, as moreclearly shown inFigure 3. The webs 23, for the sake of lightness, areeach provided with a cutout or hole 24; the webs act as stifieners andprevent buckling of the strut bars when subjected to compressionstrains;

The structure described constitutes a complete trussed beam to whichany. type of end plates or members may be attached and in which the topor compressionmember is braced at the load bearing points by a pair ofV-shaped struts which transmit the stresses or strains to the tensionmember'at spaced apart points removed from the transverse median line ofthe tension member, namely at the junctures between the horizontalintermediate portion 115* and the upwardly sloping end portions 18*,disposed intermediate the vertical planes of the center bearing and theside bearings.

tension members on theother side depending on whether the load is on theside bearing or on the center bearing; our improved bolster beingdesigned, to eliminate difiiculties heretofore encountered, especiallywith the'old simplex type which frequently became fractured orbroken atthe points subjected to side bearin loads. With our improved truss typebolster the tension forces are materially lowered in proportion to thesine of the respective angles at the juncturesrof the tension memberwith the compression member, re,- sulting from the type of tensionmember employed and its greatly lowered position while still maintainingthe required clearance therebeneath; namely a bolster whose toporcompression mem ber is free of undesirable bends and is substantiallyhorizontal throughout its length; wherein proper {distribution of thestrains, or stresses is obtained and the tension member provided withcomparatively steep inclining end portions but without an undesirablesharp angle or bend in the intermediate portion thereof; the obtuse a;gles or bends in the intermediate portion of the tension'm'ember beingbraced bylou'r improved 1V- shaped struts or brace members."

In the particular exempliflcation, the bolster is shown provided withend portions of somewhat box-form, which may be cast or formed of sheetmetal as shown,'provide'd with outer side walls 25, 25, bottom plate 26,top wall 21 and with inner side wall portions 28, 28. The top wall 21is'longitudinally slit intermediate its side edges andthe partiallysevered or slit portion bent downwardly into contact with the bottomwall 26',

and preferably welded thereto, as shownin Figure 3, to provide theinclining tension member The struts or brace member functions both ascompression members on one side and as a supporting ledge 29 whichextends between inner walls 28, with the end of the tension member shownwelded thereto, as shown in Figure 3. The

top or web portion of the compression member ID, at oppositelongitudinal sides is reduced or cut away to leave the extension Ill ateach end, which extends into the recess provided by the downwardly bentledge forming portion 29, see Figures 1 and 3, and is welded to thetension member.- The bottom wall 26 of each end portion is shownprovided with bolster spring centering lugs or seats 30; and the outerside walls 25 are provided with laterally disposed guides 3! for slidably en a ing the columns of the truck side frame.

plication of the brake mechanism and to permit the connecting rod ofsaid mechanism to be disposed at'thetop-of the truck bolster, we showthe compression or top member of the bolster, at

opposite sides of the center bearing, provided with a pair of upwardlyinclined lugs 32, apertured at trally with a center bearing and withside bear-j ings in proximity to the ends; a tension member providedwith an intermediate horizontal portion extending lengthwisely'tovertical planes intermediate the center bearing and each side bearing,with the ends bent upwardly at a steep inclina- 'tion and brought intocontact with the ends of the compression member at a comparatively highdegree angle so as to lower the tension forces and welded thereto; anda'pair of upwardly diverging brace members at opposite sidesof thecenter of the bolster, with the lower ends of the brace members restingonand welded to the tension member at the ends of its horizontalportion, while the diverged upper ends of the brac mem-- bers are weldedto the compression member at n points beneath the center bearin and therespective side bearing. I 1

2. In a truss type truck bolster, the combination of a flanged sheetmetal compression member provided centrally with a center bearing andwith side bearings intermediate its ends and'the center bearing; atension member arranged beneath the compression member and provided witha horizontal portion extending to pointsintermediate the vertical planesof the center bea'r ing and the respective side bearings with the endsinclined upwardly into angular contact with and welded to the ends ofthe compression member at t horizontal plane from end to end providedwith r a center bearing and with sid bearings in proximity to its ends;a tension member arranged be- In order to provide for either right orleft ap-- the appendedjclaims neath the compression member and providedwith end portions inclining upwardly into contact with the ends of thecompression member at an angularity in excess of fifteen degrees, withthe ends of the tension member and of th compression member Weldedtogether; and a pair of V-shaped brace members whose diverging upperends are secured to the bottom of the compression member beneath therespective side bearings and beneath the center bearing while the lowerends of the brace members are secured to the tension member at pointsintermediate the vertical planes of the center bearing and therespective side bearings. r v

4. In a fabricated truss type truck bolster, the combination of aflanged sheet metal top or compression member provided with a centerbearing and with side bearings intermediate the center bearing and theends of the compression member; a tension bar, spaced beneath thecompression member, provided with an intermediate horizontal portion andstraight upwardly inclining end portions terminating at the ends of thecompression member and welded thereto; and a pair of V-shaped bracemembers intermediate the compression member and the tension bar and theapex of each brace member welded to the tension member at the respectiveend of its horizontal portion while the diverging upper ends are weldedto the bottom of the compression member beneath the center bearing andthe respective side bearing, said brace members being provided withreenforcing webs welded intermediate the upwardly diverging ends.

5. In a truss type truck bolster, the. combination of a flanged sheetmetal top compression member, extending horizontally from end to end,providedcentrally with an opening; a king-pin receiving tube welded tothe bottom of the com- ,pression member about said opening; a centerbearing member welded to the top of the compression member about saidopening; side bearings welded to the top of the compression memberintermediate the center bearing member and the ends of the compressionmember; a tension bar, spaced beneath the compression member, providedwith an intermediate horizontal position and straight upwardly incliningend portions terminating at the ends of the compression memberintermediate the flanged sides and welded thereto; end portions weldedto the flanged sides at the ends of the compression member and providedwith declining tension member supporting portions welded to the ends ofthe tension member; and a pair of upwardly diverging brace memberswelded to th tension member and to the bottom of the compression memberbeneath the center bearing member adjacent the king-pin receiving tubeand beneath the respective side bearings.

6. In a fabricated truss type truck bolster, the combination of a sheetmetal top compression member, extending horizontally from end to end.

provided centrally with a center bearing member welded thereon and withside bearings welded to the top intermediate the center bearing memberand the ends of the compression member; a tension bar spaced beneath thecompression member and having an intermediate horizontal portion andupwardly inclining straight end portions terminating at the ends and inthe horizontal plane of the compression member and welded thereto; and abrace member on each side of the transverse median line of the bolsterwelded on the tension bar and to the bottom of the compression memberbeneath the center bearing member and beneath the respective sidebearing.

7. In a fabricated truss type truck bolster, the combination of aflanged sheet metal top compression member, extending in a horizontalplane from end to end, provided with a center bearing member weldedthereon and with side bearings welded to the top intermediate'the centerbearing member and the ends of the compression member; a tension bar,spaced beneath the compression member, provided with an intermediatehorizontal portion, extending to points beyond the vertical planes ofthe opposite sides of the center bearing member, and with upwardlyinclining straight end portions arranged in angular con tact with theends of the compression member and l welded thereto; box-like endmembers provided with inwardly declining tension bar overlappingportions welded to the ends of the tension bar and said end memberswelded to the ends of the compressionmember and extending beyond theends of the compression member in the horizontal plane thereof, thesides of said end members having laterally disposed spaced lugs forengaging the bolster opening columns of the side frame.

8. In a truss type truck bolster of prefabricated elements integrallyunited by welding, a compression member extending in a horizontal planefrom end to end provided with a center bearing and with side bearingsintermediate the center bearing and the ends; a tension bar arrangedbeneath the compression member and provided with end portions incliningupwardly into contact with the ends of the compression member at anangularity in excess of fifteen degrees, with the ends of thecompression member and bar welded together; a pair of V-shaped bracemembers whose diverging upper ends are secured to the compression memberbeneath the center bearing and the respective side bearings while thelower ends are secured to the tension bar at points intermediate thevertical planes of the center bearing and the respective side bearings;and end members whose tops are adapted to receive the top portion at theends of the compression member and provided with downwardly slopingtension bar end supporting portions.

KARL F. NYSTROM. VERNON L. GREEN.

